But wiglaf fought well under the big shield
Beowulf had once shared it with him when his own had shattered
in sparks and ashes.
Inspired again
by the thought of glory, the war-king put
his whole strength on the sword
and hit the skull. And Naegling snapped.
Beowulf's ancient iron-grey sword
had let him down in the fight. It is always unfortunate
in fights to depend on the cutting edge
of weapons made of iron. When he wielded his sword,
no matter how blooded or hard the blade,
his hand was too strong, and the stroke he dealt
would ruin the sword instead. He could not benefit at all from the sword.
Then the evil of the people, the fire-breathing dragon,
was mad enough to attack for the third time.
When the chance came, the dragon caught the hero
in a rush of flame and bit with his sharp fang
into his neck. Beowulf's body
was filled with blood: it came gushing out.
Next thing, they say, the noble son of Weohstan
saw the king in danger at his side
and displayed his innate bravery and strength.
He left the head alone, but his fighting hand
was burned when he came to help the kinsman.
He lunged low at the enemy
to stab the sword into the dragon's belly
and the flames grew weaker.
Once again, the king
summoned all his strength and drew a stabbing knife
that he carried on his belt, always sharpened for battle.
He stuck it deep into the dragon;s flank.
Beowulf dealt it a deadly wound.
They had killed the enemy and courage quelled his life;
the two kinsmen, partners in nobility,
had destroyed the foe. So every man should act,
be at hand when needed; but now, for the king
this would be the last of his labors
and triumphs in the world.
But wiglaf fought well under the big shield
Beowulf had once shared it with him when his own had shattered
in sparks and ashes.
Inspired again
by the thought of glory, the war-king put
his whole strength on the sword
and hit the skull. And Naegling snapped.
Beowulf's ancient iron-grey sword
had let him down in the fight. It is always unfortunate
in fights to depend on the cutting edge
of weapons made of iron. When he wielded his sword,
no matter how blooded or hard the blade,
his hand was too strong, and the stroke he dealt
would ruin the sword instead. He could not benefit at all from the sword.
Then the evil of the people, the fire-breathing dragon,
was mad enough to attack for the third time.
When the chance came, the dragon caught the hero
in a rush of flame and bit with his sharp fang
into his neck. Beowulf's body
was filled with blood: it came gushing out.
Next thing, they say, the noble son of Weohstan
saw the king in danger at his side
and displayed his innate bravery and strength.
He left the head alone, but his fighting hand
was burned when he came to help the kinsman.
He lunged low at the enemy
to stab the sword into the dragon's belly
and the flames grew weaker.
Once again, the king
summoned all his strength and drew a stabbing knife
that he carried on his belt, always sharpened for battle.
He stuck it deep into the dragon;s flank.
Beowulf dealt it a deadly wound.
They had killed the enemy and courage quelled his life;
the two kinsmen, partners in nobility,
had destroyed the foe. So every man should act,
be at hand when needed; but now, for the king
this would be the last of his labors
and triumphs in the world.